Infection

I have been unwell since Tuesday evening when I had a bad dose of the chills. Even though it was 25 degrees celsius, and Kevin was feeling quite comfortable in a Tshirt, I couldn't get warm at all and was literally shaking like a leaf, while my teeth were chattering like castenets. I took my temperature and it was normal, so I went to bed with two blankets, the quilt and an extra throw rug. I was all better, though very tired, by morning. I spent most of the morning moving from toilet to bed.

By the afternoon I was feeling much better, so I decided to to sit out in the sun. Then the shivers started again, so I called the oncologist. He was concerned and made an appointment for me to see him today and to have a blood test beforehand. I was also to take my temperature regularly during the evening/night.

The shivers continued for several hours, though not at the intensity they were the day before, then suddenly I was dripping with sweat. Took my temperature and it was 38, so decided bed was the best place for me. This was at 8.45. I woke up much more frequently than usual, and I didn't have diarrhea. At 11.55 my temperature had dropped to 37.9. At 3am it was back to 38 and by 6am it was down a bit to 37.5. It was normal when I got up for a shower and to have breakfast, but I was very weak.

We went off to the hospital for the blood test and the oncologist appointment (I packed a bag just in case). Because we had a wait between blood test and doctor, I checked whether I could have my PICC line flushed and dressed today rather than tomorrow and they were able to fit me in. When I saw the doctor, he told me my white blood cells were OK, but I had some sort of infection. I was sent off to give a urine sample (which was a difficulty, even though I had been drinking lots) and to get blood taken and cultured from the PICC line. I had to go back to the Ivy suite for that.

The oncologist is going to phone me on Saturday if I need any further treatment. For the moment, the prescription is rest and an antibiotic (here at home thank goodness). I am feeling pretty good at the moment though I probably need to get horizontal shortly.